SEFTON Council has won a gold medal for delivering cleaner air to Southport.

Asthma UK handed out the medal to coincide with the Beijing Olympics.

Neil Churchill, Asthma UK’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted to present Sefton Council with our Clean Air Gold Medal award in recognition of their efforts to reduce the impact of air pollution on lives.”

Evidence proved that Sefton had gone beyond the “statutory requirements of local air quality management regulations” in order to gain the award.

Bill Milburn, Sefton’s environmental protection director, said: “We were delighted to receive the medal and certificate from Asthma UK who have recognised all the hard work carried out to deliver cleaner air in the borough.

“We will continue to make sure the quality of air in Sefton remains to a very high standard.”